“Our professionals consistently work to deliver safe, effective, and high-quality care to Veterans who choose Bay Pines as their trusted health care provider. The cornerstone achievement is the result of our culture of safety, transparency and open communication,” said Suzanne M. Klinker, Director, Bay Pines VAHCS.

“We are very proud to be recognized as a gold winner for the eighth straight year by the National Center for Patient Safety’s Cornerstone program,” she said.

The NCPS was established by VA in 1999 to develop and nurture a culture of safety throughout the Veterans Health Administration. The Cornerstone Recognition Award program was later established by the national center in 2008 to enhance the RCA process and recognize the work done in patient safety across the VA health care facilities across the country. RCA is the process VA health care facilities use to improve the delivery of care by identifying prevention strategies to mitigate health care-related adverse events or “close calls.” To learn more about VA’s approach to patient safety, please visit www.patientsafety.va.gov/about/approach.asp.